The new Apple TV set-top box supports 1080p high-definition output and a simplified user interface, all available for the same $99 price when it goes on sale next week.

Apple VP Eddy Cue gave a demonstration of the new Apple TV on Wednesday, showing off big billboard images to present movies. The updated set-top box also has easier access to Photo Stream.

The refreshed version incorporates a user interface that looks more like the Home page of other iOS products, with app-like buttons for Movies, TV Shows, Music, Computers, Settings, and support for existing features such as Netflix, MLB, NBA and NHL.

"People are going to love streaming movies and TV shows in 1080p with the new Apple TV, and photos look beautiful displayed at the maximum resolution of your TV," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Apple TV is easier than ever to use with its new icon-based interface and the ability to access your purchased movies, TV shows and music right from iCloud."

Owners of the second-generation Apple TV will be able to access the new user interface with a free software update scheduled to become available today. 1080p video playback will remain exclusive to the new Apple TV.

1080p programming available for the Apple TV will include iTunes movies and TV shows, Netflix, Vimeo, photos and more. And with an updated iTunes in the Cloud, customers will be able to play movies and TV shows bought on the iTunes Store instantly on their Apple TV.

The Apple TV also recommends movies for users based on their viewing habits. With a long-press of the menu button, users can go back to the home screen quickly.

Apple TV users will be able to choose from over 15,000 movies and more than 90,000 TV episodes on the iTunes Store.

The new Apple TV will be available for $99 and will go on sale next week. It can be ordered starting today, and will require iTunes 10.5 or later.

"Allegedly simpler interface" or "redesigned interface" should be the headline. It could be "simpler", but how do we know for sure yet? Regurgitating marketing jargon isn't the way to write a headline! That's the way we ended up with everyone falsely reporting that the iPad2 had "rounded" edges while in fact the exact opposite was true.

With that said, I'll be ordering at least 2 as soon as they're available online. xbmc and the new hardware will make a quite powerful streaming box.

Actually, I hardly access my computer's content from my Apple TV. 90% of the content I view on my Apple TV is streaming from the internet, whether that's movies I rent from the iTunes store, movies I view on Netflix, videos I watch on YouTube or Vimeo, or content I've purchased previously on iTunes that I can now stream right from Apple's servers without having to connect to my computer.

Then about 9% of the time is me streaming content from my iPhone straight to my Apple TV. Mostly music, sometimes videos or photos that I've taken.

That leaves about 1% of the time when I'll load up my computer so I can watch content from it to the Apple TV. It's nice to have that option when I want it. But it's not AT ALL required.

Actually, I hardly access my computer's content from my Apple TV. 90% of the content I view on my Apple TV is streaming from the internet, whether that's movies I rent from the iTunes store, movies I view on Netflix, videos I watch on YouTube or Vimeo, or content I've purchased previously on iTunes that I can now stream right from Apple's servers without having to connect to my computer.

Then about 9% of the time is me streaming content from my iPhone straight to my Apple TV. Mostly music, sometimes videos or photos that I've taken.

That leaves about 1% of the time when I'll load up my computer so I can watch content from it to the Apple TV. It's nice to have that option when I want it. But it's not AT ALL required.

I've found access to itunes hit and miss but itunes running on a PC might be the problem.
I have an ATV2 but will watch what the jailbreakers do before deciding on an ATV3. I'm currently running xmbc on a mac mini and can also access lots of TV shows through safari. If the ATV3 could do that out of the box, the decision would be easy.

This isn't enough to get me to replace my old ATV, but it's enough for me to finally add one to my last TV. Now I would like to see new routers that double as an iTunes server, cause I do stream content from my own library, and having to have a computer on for that is a drag.

"Allegedly simpler interface" or "redesigned interface" should be the headline. It could be "simpler", but how do we know for sure yet? Regurgitating marketing jargon isn't the way to write a headline! That's the way we ended up with everyone falsely reporting that the iPad2 had "rounded" edges while in fact the exact opposite was true.

Agreed. I find the ATV2 interface annoying at times, but this looks like it will be annoying in its own way -- unless you can re-organize it, you'll have to scroll down each time you want Netflix or other services not on the top tier (and where are podcasts now)?

Also, they're clearly pushing iTunes over other services (I'm not blaming them, I'm just saying...). After all, I can watch "movies" and "tv shows" under Netflix too (and, HOPE HOPE HOPE, someday under Hulu, etc.). But with those two buttons on the top tier, separate from the Netflix button / "app", I bet it will confuse a lot of people.

Aside - what *I'd* like is a way to search across multiple services - I get annoyed doing a search in iTunes, not finding what I'm looking for, and then having to start from scratch in Netflix again. It should be a seamless experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

What I'd like to see added are live streaming apps (The buttons. They count as apps) of the major news networks. Then we could really cut out the archaic nonsense (cable/satellite) for good.

Agreed. Make the interface fully iOS-like; make "apps" (or widgets) for individual networks, and let users re-organize the screen so their most-used apps are on the first screen / top tier.

I was a bit underwhelmed by the ATV3 presentation - after all the good comments on here last week, I was thinking "that's it? 1080p and a redesigned [and arguably no better] interface?" What about internal memory again, what about ability to run separate from a PC running iTunes, what about some nice surprise announcements about Hulu or Amazon Prime?

Also, not clear to me whether this new interface is *only* for the ATV3, or if a software update will also bring it to ATV2 -- anyone pick up on that?

... It's nice to have that option when I want it. But it's not AT ALL required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

Okay. For YOU. For me it is. I'm not streaming my stuff down. I have it all here. RIGHT here. Locally. I should be able to get to it seamlessly.

You aren't me. It's required for ME to buy it. I'll buy THREE on the same day they actually announce one. Until then, no sale.

What I'd like to see added are live streaming apps (The buttons. They count as apps) of the major news networks. Then we could really cut out the archaic nonsense (cable/satellite) for good.

TS, you were the one that started with the 'global' proclamations. Xanthohappy was just replying to your original post. It is not at all required that a computer remain on, with itunes running. For YOU that is the case, but you made no mention of that in your original post, you just proclaimed that it was a necessity, when it was not. If you would have originally written 'Still requires a computer on & itunes running FOR ME' then no one would have responded pointing out your inaccuracy.

There's no way to just ACCESS local stuff without having a computer on and iTunes open. I can't have a shared iTunes library stored on a hard drive attached directly to my home network and expect it to open on the Apple TV. Works on proper computers, not the Apple TV. Not buying one until I can do that one simple thing. There's no sense in being forced to have a computer on and iTunes open.

This isn't enough to get me to replace my old ATV, but it's enough for me to finally add one to my last TV. Now I would like to see new routers that double as an iTunes server, cause I do stream content from my own library, and having to have a computer on for that is a drag.

Many NAS'es have iTunes Server in it that you can use and then your computer can store its contents to the NAS as a file share, which then Apple TV can reference that iTunes library via iTunes server. The NAS is always on at that point. I only have a Macbook Pro and use it in this sense...although I never truly use iTunes Server, but my NAS does support it. NAS'es have dropped in price dramatically as well.

I was a bit underwhelmed by the ATV3 presentation - after all the good comments on here last week, I was thinking "that's it? 1080p and a redesigned [and arguably no better] interface?" What about internal memory again, what about ability to run separate from a PC running iTunes, what about some nice surprise announcements about Hulu or Amazon Prime?

Also, not clear to me whether this new interface is *only* for the ATV3, or if a software update will also bring it to ATV2 -- anyone pick up on that?

You don't need a PC running iTunes. Everything is streamed either via AirPlay, iCloud, iTunes, or third parties like Netflix.

Actually, I hardly access my computer's content from my Apple TV. 90% of the content I view on my Apple TV is streaming from the internet, whether that's movies I rent from the iTunes store, movies I view on Netflix, videos I watch on YouTube or Vimeo, or content I've purchased previously on iTunes that I can now stream right from Apple's servers without having to connect to my computer.

Then about 9% of the time is me streaming content from my iPhone straight to my Apple TV. Mostly music, sometimes videos or photos that I've taken.

That leaves about 1% of the time when I'll load up my computer so I can watch content from it to the Apple TV. It's nice to have that option when I want it. But it's not AT ALL required.

There's no way to just ACCESS local stuff without having a computer on and iTunes open. I can't have a shared iTunes library stored on a hard drive attached directly to my home network and expect it to open on the Apple TV. Works on proper computers, not the Apple TV. Not buying one until I can do that one simple thing. There's no sense in being forced to have a computer on and iTunes open.

Do you turn off your computer when you're done with it, or just let is sleep? I thought from SL on there was the "Wake On Demand" option.

Also, I take it the majority of local content you have is ripped DVDs and/or home-made content like family videos. If it's the former, you're not really who Apple is targeting, and the Apple TV is still a niche product. For the latter, it's possible Photostream will be updated eventually where you can store specific photos/videos online.

Do you currently have a better solution for getting content from your computer onto your television?

There's no way to just ACCESS local stuff without having a computer on and iTunes open. I can't have a shared iTunes library stored on a hard drive attached directly to my home network and expect it to open on the Apple TV. Works on proper computers, not the Apple TV. Not buying one until I can do that one simple thing. There's no sense in being forced to have a computer on and iTunes open.

I'd like to see a smarter TimeCapsule that could hold media 'playlists' which would always appear on ATV or any other connected device. I don't want to store the the main library because working with certain files would be just too slow. Or perhaps it could be optional - for some people / families, having a centralized media library would solve many problems.

Many NAS'es have iTunes Server in it that you can use and then your computer can store its contents to the NAS as a file share, which then Apple TV can reference that iTunes library via iTunes server.

Everyone I've talked to has absolutely no idea what this is supposed to mean. I've seen "iTunes Server" advertised for years, and no one has a clue what that means or how it's even possible, no NAS seems to actually have it, and I've been told the Apple TV isn't compatible with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yensid98

Are you interested in buying my original Apple TV with 40GB internal HD? That way you could leave your computer off and still access 40GB worth of material.

Heh. I loved the idea behind the first gen. Never had one. Terrible processor, horrible power draw, tiny hard drive, 720p cap.

I have about a terabyte and a half of content in iTunes. 40 GB would be nine movies, and then not at full resolution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pendergast

Also, I take it the majority of local content you have is ripped DVDs and/or home-made content like family videos.

Do you currently have a better solution for getting content from your computer onto your television?

Yeah, I just watch it on my Cinema Display, connected directly to my computer. That's why I want an Apple TV solution. I personally have no reason to own a TV right now. I don't watch any modern programming and I really just want to be able to push my existing content to a larger-than-27" screen and from time to time watch the news or other potential points of interest.

But Apple won't let me do THAT either, because they didn't take my idea for Channels and run with it.

Pricing & Availability
Apple TV will be available on Friday, March 16 for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) through the Apple online store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple TV requires iTunes 10.5 or later. Apple TV requires an 802.11g/n Wi-Fi network or Ethernet network, a broadband Internet connection and a HD TV capable of 1080p or 720p and an HDMI cable that is sold separately. iTunes movie and TV show availability varies by country. Second generation Apple TV users can install the new Apple TV user interface via a free software update, available today. Third generation Apple TV hardware is required to play 1080p video.

Why does it require a computer on and iTunes open? I thought rentals are streamed? Just asking.

finally made it through all the threads and see this question was answered - requires a computer on and iTunes open if the user wants to access a local library. If anything, by adding video to the cloud, appleTV is one step closer to not needing the computer on (for me, at least). This will be great when traveling somewhere with decent broadband - my entire (to the extent iTunes purchased) video library in a very small box.

Yeah, I just watch it on my Cinema Display, connected directly to my computer. That's why I want an Apple TV solution. I personally have no reason to own a TV right now. I don't watch any modern programming and I really just want to be able to push my existing content to a larger-than-27" screen and from time to time watch the news or other potential points of interest.

But Apple won't let me do THAT either, because they didn't take my idea for Channels and run with it.

If you don't have a TV and don't watch any modern programming, it isn't too surprising that your needs aren't met by mainstream products. The entertainment and consumer electronics industries are tailoring their products to people who actually buy their products.

(I don't mean to pick a fight with these few recent comments on your posts. It's all good discussion)

If you don't have a TV and don't watch any modern programming, it isn't too surprising that your needs aren't met by mainstream products. The entertainment and consumer electronics industries are tailoring their products to people who actually buy their products.

(I don't mean to pick a fight with these few recent comments on your posts. It's all good discussion)

Perhaps I'd watch more modern stuff if the hardware catered to my needs.

I know I'd certainly use Netflix, but I'd like to be able to get to the stuff sitting not 40 feet away, too.